Top Offensive Line Free Agents per PFF

[Jmble]

Here are the names to get to know. I stopped when I got to Quinton Spain. Reiff and Spain are pretty far down the list, but I figured they are worst case scenarios that would be acceptable so I didn't feel the need to keep going once I got there.

They are numbered by Overall Free Agent Ranking per PFF

2 Terron Armstead – Tackle New Orleans 30.5 years old
Projected Contract - 3 yrs — $20m avg/yr
$43.75m guaranteed, $60m total

HIGH-END STARTING LEFT TACKLE: There aren't many weaknesses to Armstead's game. He's one of the position's best pass protectors and rarely loses in the run game across both gap and zone run concepts. There are plenty of teams with cap space next offseason, such as Jacksonville and Miami, that could make use of Armstead's services if the Saints opt not to bring him back. Slotting in next to Quenton Nelson in Indianapolis would be the most intriguing potential landing spot for the 30-year old.

9 Orlando Brown Jr – Tackle Kansas City 25.7 years old
Projected Contract - 5 yrs — $21m avg/yr
$73.5m guaranteed, $105m total

STARTING TACKLE: Brown is one of the most dependable tackles in the NFL and he annually ranks among the best at avoiding missed blocks in the run game. He uses his length well as a pass blocker, though he's not as dominant as you'd expect as a run blocker given his massive size.

12 Ryan Jensen – Center Tampa Bay 30.7 years old
Projected Contract - 3 yrs — $13m avg/yr
$24.25m guaranteed, $39m total

STARTING CENTER: Jensen's best fit is on a downhill rushing offense that takes advantage of his physicality, but he's graded above the 70th percentile of all centers in gap and zone run schemes over the past three seasons. He would slide in to nearly any offense without many issues

18 Brandon Scherff – Guard Washington 30.1 years old
Projected Contract - 3 yrs — $16.67m avg/yr
$30m guaranteed, $50m total

STARTING GUARD: Scherff is one of the best all-around guards in football when healthy. He has graded out better the last several seasons in zone rushing schemes, where his ability on the move shines. He would be a nice addition to the Jets' young, rebuilding offensive line opposite Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker.

26 Laken Tomlinson – Guard San Francisco 30.0 years old
Projected Contract - 3 yrs — $9m avg/yr
$16.5m guaranteed, $27m total

STARTING GUARD: Tomlinson has developed into one of the best guards in the league under Kyle Shanahan, so a zone-heavy system is best for him to ensure continued high production. However, Tomlinson has done it all throughout his career and he can play in any scheme.

32 Duane Brown – Tackle Seattle 36.4 years old
Projected contract - 2 yrs — $10m avg/yr
$14.5m guaranteed, $20m total

STARTING LEFT TACKLE: While he's at his best in a zone-heavy scheme, Brown has done it all during his 14-year career. He's been one of the most dependable tackles in the leauge since his rookie season and he's likely entering tackle-for-hire one-year deal status for teams that expect to be in playoff contention.

38 Connor Williams – Guard Dallas 24.7 years old
Projected Contract - 3 yrs — $6.67m avg/yr
$12.5m guaranteed, $20m total

STARTING GUARD: While Williams has done most of his damage in a zone-heavy scheme, he's an effective puller and he's capable of executing any block required in a gap-heavy system as well. In pass protection, he could use help against longer players.

40 James Daniels – Guard Chicago 24.4 years old
Projected Contract - 5 yrs — $10m avg/yr
$24m guaranteed, $50m total

STARTING GUARD IN A ZONE-BLOCKING SCHEME: Daniels has played predominantly in zone-heavy attacks between college at Iowa and his four years with the Bears and that's where he excels when it comes to the run game.

46 Ben Jones – Center Tennessee 32.6 years old
Projected Contract – 3 yrs — $6.67m avg/yr
$12m guaranteed, $20m total

STARTING CENTER IN ZONE-HEAVY SCHEME: Battle-tested and reliable, Jones is one of the better starting centers in the league. He does his best work in the zone running game, but he's capable of playing in any system and he has experience playing guard if needed.

53 Austin Corbett – Guard LA Rams – 26.1 years old
Projected Contract - 4 yrs — $9.25m avg/yr
$20m guaranteed, $37m total

STARTING GUARD: Corbett has turned his career around in Sean McVay's wide zone offense, but he's graded above the 50th percentile among all guards in zone and gap rushing schemes since the start of last season. He's also graded in the top half of all qualifying guards in pass-blocking grade on true pass sets. Corbett doesn't necessarily need to remain in a similar offense to be an effective starter.


56 Andrew Norwell – Guard Jacksonville – 30.3 years old

Projected Contract - 3 yrs — $7.25m avg/yr
$15m guaranteed, $21.75m total

STARTING LG: Andrew Norwell is still a solid option as a starting guard in today's NFL. He is a better pass blocker than he is in the run game, and would upgrade several offensive lines in the league. His play hasn't been trending in the right direction, but he has still never had a poor season overall.


57 Morgan Moses – Tackle NY Jets 30.9 years old
Projected Contract - 3 yrs — $7.5m avg/yr
$14.5m guaranteed, $22.5m total

STARTING RIGHT TACKLE: Moses is a durable player who has been consistently solid since taking over as a starter in 2015.

58 Eric Fisher – Tackle Indianapolis 31.1 years old
Projected Contract - 3 yrs — $16m avg/yr
$31.25m guaranteed, $48m total

STARTING LEFT TACKLE: Fisher fits in the mold of average starting tackles that fanbases think they can upgrade over, but the reality of replacing an average tackle isn't always pleasant. Fisher fits best in a zone blocking scheme.

64 Alex Cappa – Guard Tampa Bay 27.0 years old
Projected Contract - 4 yrs — $9.25m avg/yr
$20m guaranteed, $37m total

STARTING GUARD: Cappa isn't a world beater on the interior, but he adds legitimate value to teams that want to run the ball downhill. The Chargers, Dolphins, and Jaguars should all be looking to add a run blocking guard like Cappa.

67 Brian Allen – Center LA Rams 26.3 years old
No Projected contract given
STARTING CENTER IN ZONE-HEAVY SCHEME: Allen has been one of the better zone run-blocking centers in the NFL in his two years as Los Angeles' starting center, helping mask a below-average pass blocking profile. His best fit is in an offense that utilizes play action frequently and moves the pocket to reduce the number of true pass sets.

79 Trent Brown – Tackle New England 28.8 years old
Projected contract - 2 yrs — $10m avg/yr
$15m guaranteed, $20m total

STARTING TACKLE IN ANY SCHEME: Brown has developed into one of the better starting tackles in the league and he's had success on both the left and right sides. He can move people in the run game, even though he'll have his share of losses as well, and he's been one of the better pass blocking tackles in the league over the last few years. He's capable in both zone and gap schemes.

91 Riley Reiff – Tackle Cincinnati 33.2 years old
Projected Contract - 2 yrs — $7m avg/yr
$9.25m guaranteed, $14m total

PROBLEM-SOLVING BRIDGE STARTER/SWING T: Riley Reiff was a longtime starter at left tackle before moving to the right side for the Bengals in 2020. He has been solid in both spots, but loses enough that teams will always be looking to upgrade. He would be a high-end backup, but will also massively upgrade a problem spot for a team that has one.

92 Germain Ifedi – Tackle Chicago 27.7 years old
Projected Contract - 2 yrs — $6.5m avg/yr
$8.5m guaranteed, $13m total

LOW-END STARTING RIGHT TACKLE/HIGH-END SIXTH OL: Ifedi started the 2020 season at right guard for Chicago before kicking back out to right tackle, where he also started the 2021 season. Ifedi has graded out better as a pass protector at tackle with the Bears, and he's been a better run blocker in gap schemes throughout his career.

94 Bradley Bozeman – Center Baltimore 27.2 years old
Projected Contract - 3 yrs — $7m avg/yr
$10m guaranteed, $21m total

INTERIOR OL STARTER IN GAP-HEAVY SCHEME: Bozeman is a below-average athlete who isn't at his best in a zone scheme that asks him to get out in space. He's coming off a career-best 73.8 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2021, his lone season at center for the Ravens.

118 Brandon Shell – Tackle Seattle 30.0 years old
Projected Contract - 3 yrs — $6.25m avg/yr
$10.25m guaranteed, $18.75m total

AVERAGE-TO-BELOW AVERAGE STARTING RIGHT TACKLE: Listed at 6-foot-5 and 324 pounds, Shell isn't the dominant force in the run game that his size might suggest. But he has been a serviceable starting option for Seattle when healthy, which hasn't been a guarantee over the past two seasons. Shell has graded above the 65th percentile in true pass sets and in avoiding negative grades in the run game since 2020.

119 Trai Turner – Guard Pittsburgh 28.6 years old
Projected contract - 3 yrs — $6.25m avg/yr
$10m guaranteed, $18.75m total

STARTING GUARD: Trai Turner has elite tape on his NFL resume, but it came in the first couple of seasons of his career before his performances fell away. This past year in Pittsburgh, he had a relative bounceback season, but it was hugely helped by Ben Roethlisberger's league-fastest average time to throw. Turner showed he can still start, but how good he will be remains a question.

128 Mark Glowinski – Guard Indianapolis 29.7 years old
Projected Contract - 3 yrs — $6.25m avg/yr
$13m guaranteed, $18.75m total

STARTING GUARD: Glowinski is a plus athlete with power who has a nasty streak to him. That's not a bad combination to have at guard. Prospective teams have to weight that against his play in pass protection, which has been slightly below league average since joining the Colts in 2018.

129 Quinton Spain – Guard Cincinnati 30.5 years old
Projected Contract – 3 yrs — $4.75m avg/yr
$6.75m guaranteed, $14.25m total

LEFT GUARD IN ZONE-HEAVY RUN SCHEME: Big maulers at the guard position generally profile best in gap schemes, but Spain has graded in the 57th percentile at the position on zone runs compared to just the 10th percentile in gap runs over the past three seasons. He's a starting option but likely one who teams will be looking to upgrade on.

[Joe the Sot]

Thanks Jmble,
Very interesting.
As expected it should not be difficult to upgrade, I am hoping to get better and younger!

[Scooper]

The big 2 top tackles will get a lot of attention and rightfully so. Either would be great. But have mercy there are a lot of good interior linemen hitting the market this year, even if a few of those get re-signed. There is absolutely no excuse to be that soft up the middle again next season.

[Zoo]

Andrew Norwell seems like a decent option. And it turns out he's a local guy.

[Jmble]

Andrew Norwell seems like a decent option. And it turns out he's a local guy.

Went to Anderson High School here in Cincy. Played at Ohio State.

Definitely seems like a possibility. This seems like it would be the ideal time to try and jump on local guys who are available and can help.

[MeatHeadbengal]

38 Connor Williams – Guard Dallas 24.7 years old
Projected Contract - 3 yrs — $6.67m avg/yr
$12.5m guaranteed, $20m total

STARTING GUARD: While Williams has done most of his damage in a zone-heavy scheme, he's an effective puller and he's capable of executing any block required in a gap-heavy system as well. In pass protection, he could use help against longer players.

Personally I'd really like to make a play on this guy. We are a heavy zone scheme type team.

[Mag]

We need to sign at least 2 off this list (not named Spain. 3 if you include Spain).

[Bengals1]

We need to sign at least 2 off this list (not named Spain. 3 if you include Spain).

Precisely.

[Zoo]

38 Connor Williams – Guard Dallas 24.7 years old
Projected Contract - 3 yrs — $6.67m avg/yr
$12.5m guaranteed, $20m total

STARTING GUARD: While Williams has done most of his damage in a zone-heavy scheme, he's an effective puller and he's capable of executing any block required in a gap-heavy system as well. In pass protection, he could use help against longer players.

Personally I'd really like to make a play on this guy. We are a heavy zone scheme type team.

I'd like to make a run at him too. But, I just get this feeling that the Cowboys will woo him back.

[MeatHeadbengal]

38 Connor Williams – Guard Dallas 24.7 years old
Projected Contract - 3 yrs — $6.67m avg/yr
$12.5m guaranteed, $20m total

STARTING GUARD: While Williams has done most of his damage in a zone-heavy scheme, he's an effective puller and he's capable of executing any block required in a gap-heavy system as well. In pass protection, he could use help against longer players.

Personally I'd really like to make a play on this guy. We are a heavy zone scheme type team.

I'd like to make a run at him too. But, I just get this feeling that the Cowboys will woo him back.

Maybe, but you never know now that we have Burrow. I'm not going to put anything out of the question with this franchise now.